GOLF TITLES DECIDED

Chronicle (Levin), 11 October 1948, Page 4

GOLF TITLES DECIDED

W. G. Clark Is Again. Senior Champiou The Levin Golf Club's men's ehampionship finals were decided on Saturday afternoon. W. G. Clark defeated S. C. Franklin to win his 26th senior ehampionship. In the ' intermediate final O. C. Lago'r had a hard tussle with J. A. C. King to eVentually. win at the 39th hole. The junior title was won in convincing style by B. Antcliff,' who ovetwhelmed his opponent,- J. E. Fullarton, to the txffve of 10. and eight. ( A strong westerly wind, accompanied by occasional rain, made conditions unpleasant for the ff^st® few holes. Then the rain ceased although the wind continued throughout the day. Play by all the finalists was of a fairly high standard. The Senior Match Opening play in the senior grade showed S. C. Franklin making a sparkling start in recording three bogies to become three up, his opponent W. G. Clark finding trouble early. Settling down, however, Clark halved the fourth hole and reduced the deficit to two down by winning the fifth. There was littie between the, two players for the remainder of the first found, with Franklin finishing one up and each having a round of 39. Clark imme'diately struck form on the inward journey, winning five of . the six holes played, but Franklin fought back well and at the completion of the first 18 holes was only two down. Ciark's figures were 39 for each round, with his opponent recording an 82. Franklin was unluckily penalised by entering the drain on the 19th hole at „the commencement of the afternoon's play, Clark winning this to become three up. Tne latter player was now - settling down to . play in his accustomed steady style and Franklin only succeeded in winning one hole and halving two others by the time the 27.th hole was reached, with Clark holding a commanding lead of seven up. Clark won the 28th to become dormy and then clinched the match at the 30tn by winning on par figures, the final result being eight and six. Ciark's outward figures were again 39, Franklin recording a 44, while both players were one over par , for the three holes played on the inward journey. * Stern Intermediate Struggle With the senior and junior games showing that the both issues were in the hands of the respective leaders, Clark and Antcliff, the gallery then concentrated its attention on the finalists in the intermediate grade, O. C. Lagor and. J. A. C. King, and this match proved a splendid one for both players and spectators alike. Scoring for the first 18 holes was very even, Lagor taking 85 strokes to his opponent's 84. Both players finished all square, good scoring under the prevailing windy conditions.

King won the first two 'holes on the commencement of the afternoon's play, but Lagor, playing steadily, had reduced the deficit to one down at the 27th. King had a glorious opportunity to become three up with four to play at the 32nd, but a missed foot putt allowed Lagor - to halve the hole, only after cannoning in from 'his opponent's ball. King still held command at the 35th, being dormy one up, but Lagor gallantly holed a ten foot putt to win the 36th, thus halving the match. Lagor looked likely to win the 37th, as his opponent had fluffed his -drive, but -King magnificently recovered to halve in par figures. The 38th 'hole had King struggling again to halve, his opponent missing a three foot putt for a win. Lagor put his ball on the green at the 39th, while King was well past the green with his tee shot. He failed to recover with his two apprOach shots, Lagor winning the match with par figures, thus ending a memorable struggle between two well matched players. Lagor's figures for the Second round were '88 strokes to his opponent's 85, while Lagor recorded three bogey scores in the extra three holes played and King was two strokes over par.

Convincing Win The junior finalists, B. Antcliff and J. E. Fullarton, were the first of the day's finalists to complete their game, the former winning comfortably at the 28th hole hy 10 'and eight. ' Having a card of 84 for his opening 18 holes, Antcliff proved fcoo steady for his opponent, being seven up at lunc'h, a lead which was a most commanding one. Fullarton gamely tried to reduce the * deficit at the opening of the afternoon's round, but, with his handy .ead, Antcliff was content to play safely for the remainder of the game, which finished on the 28th green. Despite serious opposition on only one occasion in an earlier round, Antcliff has . proved definiteiy superior to his opponents in the junior grade and Fullarton can be regarded as unlucky to strike such opposition in the only final he. has contested to date. The thanks of the committee are due to the various referees who so ably carried out their duties- throughout the day's play, Messrs, C, Larsen, H. W. S. Walker and A. E. Hastedt.